The Great Declaration, Part I

AnonymousBashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

4.0

Word count: 489 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

The "Great Declaration" belongs to Mei Ze's Old Text Shangshu and is divided into upper, middle, and lower sections; the New Text Shangshu does not contain this chapter.

Editor's review

The "Great Declaration, Part One" is one of the chapters in the Old Text Shangshu presented by Mei Ze, divided into upper, middle, and lower sections, while the New Text Shangshu does not contain this chapter—a difference that is itself an entry point for understanding the transmission and authentication problems of the Shangshu. This chapter centers on King Wu of Zhou's oath at the campaign against the tyrant Zhou, with archaic and imposing language that embodies the political logic of "punishing the tyrant to relieve the people" in early political documents. This Bashu Press edition includes annotations and a modern translation, both helping general readers grasp the meaning and preserving hints about textual problems, so that readers can appreciate the scholarly thread of the "authenticity debate" while reading. It is worth reading as a double text: one layer is the historical narrative of King Wu's oath, the other is the later process of canon construction. For readers concerned with classical studies, pre-Qin history, or textual authentication, this short piece offers a sample of seeing the large through the small.

Who it's for

A good fit for

History and literature students studying the Shangshu and the transmission of classical learning
Ancient history enthusiasts interested in pre-Qin history and the narrative of King Wu's campaign against Zhou
Classical Chinese readers who wish to read chapters of the Old Text Shangshu with the help of annotations and translation
Readers interested in textual authentication and the formation of classics

Not a good fit for

Readers who only want the New Text Shangshu chapters and do not care about the Old Text Shangshu
Beginners lacking Classical Chinese foundations who are unwilling to consult annotations
Readers needing a complete annotated translation of the entire Shangshu

Reading tips

First read the modern translation to grasp the oath's general meaning, then return to the original and circle names, place names, and key verbs.
After finishing, consult a brief account of the New Text/Old Text controversy in the Shangshu to establish the textual background.
Read the "Great Declaration, Part One" alongside the "Oath at Mu" to compare the similarities and differences between the two anti-Zhou oaths.
Jot down unfamiliar words as you go and look them up in the annotations in batches, avoiding frequent interruptions.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
周书·泰誓上第一

FAQ

Why is there a distinction between New Text and Old Text for the "Great Declaration"?

The New Text Shangshu does not contain the "Great Declaration"; the three chapters of the "Great Declaration" in the present version come from the Old Text Shangshu presented by Mei Ze. This difference is one of the core issues in Shangshu authentication research; understanding the background while reading is sufficient, and there is no need to deny its documentary value on that account.

Do I need to read the "Oath at Mu" before reading the "Great Declaration, Part One"?

It is not required, but reading them together is recommended. The "Oath at Mu" belongs to the New Text Shangshu and likewise describes King Wu's oath at the campaign against Zhou; comparing the two gives an intuitive sense of the differences in language and narrative between New Text and Old Text chapters and makes it easier to understand the position of the "Great Declaration" in the classical system.

Is this book's annotation and translation suitable for beginners?

It is suitable as starting material. The annotations and translation help clarify words and sentences, but the Shangshu's language is archaic, so beginners still need to patiently compare sentence by sentence; unfamiliar allusions can be skipped at first and revisited after finishing the whole piece. For deeper study, a general introduction to the Shangshu is also needed.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.